Category Archives: Non Waitemata

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS ENJOYING SUMMER CRUISING

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THETIS – HAURAKI GULF
GAY DAWN – HAURAKI GULF
ROA -HAURAKI GULF
WAIARI – HAURAKI GULF
AOTEAROA – HAURAKI GULF
JUANITE & MARINUS – Oneroa
ARETHUSA – BOI
KOROWAI – BOI
POSEIDON – BOI
KAIKOURA – BOI
SOUTH SEAS – BOI
RATBAG – BOI

CLASSIC WOODEN BOATS ENJOYING SUMMER CRUISING

Over the 2025/26 xmas / new year period a couple of woodys have been sending in photos of classic craft that they have seen out and about. Angus Rogers onboard the motor launch CENTAURUS has been mooching around the Coromandel / Bottom End of Waiheke Island and Murray Deeble on his Townson yacht MORGANA in the Bay of Islands. 

The evil weather we had around the 27th >31st keep a lot of boats in the marina and those out were not moving around much . Angus recorded winds of 68 knots in Te Kouma at anchor. 

Quite a few washed ashore and sales of SaltAway will be high this month with a lot of dinghies / outboards flipped over in the high winds. 

PHOTO BELOW FROM ABOARD CENTAURUS

BAY OF ISLANDS – RUSSELL  – CLASSIC LAUNCH PARADE

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VIDEO EX IAN HOLT

https://www.facebook.com/groups/316224205161973/permalink/25652234717800906/?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=KPLPuWDP0YaaYW1o#

BAY OF ISLANDS – RUSSELL  – CLASSIC LAUNCH PARADE

Yesterday (Friday 9th) saw a group of woody classic boat owners participate in a parade of classic craft as part of the Russell Boating Club – Tall Ships Regatta weekend.

Great turn out with an even mix of launches, ex game boats and ex work boats, looked like perfect conditions and a great time by all. 

Part of the event was a log rally which my spies tell me was a tad too long and my lips are sealed but maybe a few skippers may have been using the smart phones for more tha just phone calls……..

Photos thanks to Hilton Ward onboard SPINDRIFT.  (as always click on photos to enlarge)

Today (Saturday) will be a biggie on the water with the running of the 50th Tall Ships Sailing Regatta.

WINNERS ARE GRINNERS – The winner of the log rally was the Owen Woolley built launch – KORAWAI, owned by Tania and Matt Cooper. Photo below of Matt (R) and cabin boy Grant Gibbs. I suspect they won it fair and square – I know both well and both are luddites when it comes to technology 🙂

12-01-2026 UPDATE BELOW – ex Margo & Jamie Hudson

TANIWHA 1950’S QUEENSTOWN LAKE RUN-ABOUT

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TANIWHA 1950’S QUEENSTOWN LAKE RUN-ABOUT

Earlier in the week WW was contacted re the above c.1950’s wooden lake day boat – TANIWHA. Her owner was having to move the craft from Queenstown to Dunedin and had an insurance question.
They commented that she has been in a watertight garage since the late 1990s/early 2000s where the conditions are bone dry. 

It is believed that the craft hasn’t been near Lake Wakatipu since about the same era. The photo are all from the same period.

The run-about was home built by the owners grandfather and father.

It’s a long shot but do the photos ring any bells from the past. TANIWHA was quite a looker so should have been a memorable sight, so fingers crossed.

UPDATE – THEY SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED HER TODAY AFTER 20+ YEARS IN THE GARAGE

UPCOMING EVENTS – CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

SUMMER CRUISING ONBOARD CLASSIC YACHT RANGER

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SUMMER CRUISING ONBOARD CLASSIC YACHT RANGER

During a deep dive in the WW files I rediscovered an email received from Paul Garnham concerning the classic yacht RANGER. Refer below (edited)

“It was suggested to me that you might be able to assist me locate the current owner of Ranger.  I’m currently digitising my Grandfathers old photos slides from the 1960’s and 70’s and discovered a bunch of photos of Ranger and crew sailing in the Bay of Islands as best I can tell.  The owner of Ranger, Mr Tercel? features in a couple of them.  I wonder if the current owner of Ranger might be interested or even your website?

I assume it was my Grandfather, Charles Garnham, who took the photos, and I can also identify one of the crew as Mac Redmond, who is my father’s cousin”.

Now I’m hoping I did connect the two, but if not hopefully todays story will.

RANGER also made an appearance on the cover of the Dec/Jan 1961/62 issue of Sea Spray magazine (photo below via K Ricketts)

CLASSIC WOODEN BIG GAME BOAT – DOROTHY – FLASHBACK

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CLASSIC WOODEN BIG GAME BOAT – DOROTHY – FLASHBACK

Back in July 2015 WW ran a great story on the Oliver & Gilpin built launch DOROTHY, link below. At the time we only had one every stunning b/w photograph  https://waitematawoodys.com/2015/07/01/dorothy-2/  There is lots of chat on DOROTHY at the link.

Fast forward to late Dec 2025 and woody John Dawson sent in the great photo above .

Can we learn more about where she is today.

05-01-2025 – INPUT ex CRAIG OGLE – My old mate Wayne owned her in the 90s he sold her to a couple fellas in Wellington as far as I know.

CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ACHERON 

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CLASSIC WOODEN LAUNCH – ACHERON 

ACHERON was built in 1968 by Owen Woolley and is apex. 44’ in length, has a beam of 12’7” and draws 3’6”.

Forward motion is via twin Commer 135hp engines. Owen W was a big fan of these engine, no doubt based around the sideways configuration which allowed for ender floor installation. 

Probably best described as fitting the modern classic mould, she’s a tad too busy up top for my eyes.

She recently made an appearance on tme which gives us a good look below decks. She did appear on WW back in March 2023 https://waitematawoodys.com/2022/03/14/acheron/

Hopefully a new owner is enjoying this rather large launch this summer.

CLASSIC WORKBOAT – MARILYN – STILL AROUND?

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CLASSIC WORKBOAT – MARILYN – STILL AROUND?

Todays woody is the 34’6” fishing boat MARILYN, built in 1959 by her owner Thomas Clements. Details below.

Question of the day – is she still afloat and if so where and in what condition.

Photos ex Sea Spray magazine c.1960 via Ken Ricketts

KAWHIA WHARF – 1910 – CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS FLASHBACK

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KAWHIA WHARF – 1910 – CLASSIC WOODEN MOTORBOATS FLASHBACK

Todays woody photo is of the wharf at Kawia and the large vessel berthed alongside is the harbour ferry – MAHINO.

Of more interest is the collection of small launches , they have a workboat look to them, anyone able to iD any of them.

Photo ex Auckland Libraries heritage collection via Ian McDonald. 

CLASSIC LAUNCH – STERLING – Can We Help Out

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CLASSIC LAUNCH – STERLING – Can We Help Out

Todays woody – STERLING was built by Ernie Lane in Picton and launched in 1925. Lots of details and photos in this April 2019 WW story – link here  https://waitematawoodys.com/2019/04/03/sterling-2/

Last week WW was contacted by STERLING’s owner who advised they were in the process of getting her back up to speed for her 100th next year. They commented that with the help of a tame boat builder, they have removed the dodgy timber and replaced with good Northland Kauri, pulled the engine out and given it an overhaul, reconfigured the main cabin and will replace the very agricultural duck board and raise and reconfigure the aft cabin. Along with a full rewiring, she should be good to go for a wee while. 

That’s all good news put they have a wee problem – in pulling out the old 6 cylinder Ford Lehman, it was discovered that the cast manifold is beyond repair and are reaching out to see if there are any woodys that might know know where they can get a replacement.

So question today is – can we help out, someone must have one in a shed somewhere.

CLASSIC WOODEN DAY BOAT – RURU 

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CLASSIC WOODEN DAY BOAT – RURU 

I have photographed the very beautiful classic wooden launch RURU many times at the Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade.

One of the woody gang spotted her recently on a trailer at the Outboard Boating Club hardstand in Tamaki Drive, Auckland. 

They commented that she’s obviously very well looked after and appears to have had recent work to bring her to mint condition. 

Well done to all involved in maintaining her to such high standards.

And speaking of the  Lake Rotoiti Classic & Wooden Boat Parade, there is a LRC&WBP 2026 calendar to the first person that can correctly name her first owner. Clues – they were a knight (Sir). Entries via email ONLY to waitematawoodys@gmail.com